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play such a wild game, that Sir Thomas at last exclaimed, "What can the girl mean? You have left no less than four blots in your chequer; and why did you not cover that man, and take me up?"

This remark made her ten times more confused. But, by way of showing she was quite collected, and remembered her uncle's hint, she seized three of his men, clapped them up" where men should not be," and, by way of company, put two of her own

beside them.

"What the devil is the girl about?" again exclaimed Sir Thomas, who was rather apt to get warm at backgammon. "These are my men. Where are you going with them? You have no right to touch them; neither of them were blots; they were both bands in my own chequer. At any rate, your throw could not reach them. You threw quatres, and it would require cinques. As I live, you have taken up two of your own men also! Catherine, what in the world are you thinking of?

You seem to have entirely forgot how to play backgammon. I used to think you knew something about the game; but really, if you go on at this rate, I must change my opinion. 'Tis most extraordinary; you won two gammons last night, and to-night you can hardly count your points. You are by no means a steady player, Catherine; but come, we will make this the last hit, for I fear your head must be very bad indeed."

At this Charles smiled, which so provoked Catherine, that she determined to take no notice of him, but try to retrieve her backgammon character. She therefore began with a tremendous flourish, and thought she was going on most swimmingly, when she was brought to her senses by Sir Thomas asking her, with great coolness, if it was her practice to begin to take off her men, while she had two remaining in her adversary's chequer? This remark so confounded her, that, saying she felt her headach, she begged to decline finishing

the game; and, to add to her distress, Charles said, with great archness, "I hope 'Richard is his own man again?" "

"He may be his own man again,” said Sir Thomas, laughing; " but certainly Richard is no backgammon player."

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CHAPTER XX.

Glo'ster.-My other self, my counsel's consistory,
My oracle, my prophet!-my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction.

King Richard III.

"CATHERINE," said Ellinor, "we have got into a pretty dilemma. Mamma tells me that that nuisance, Miss Kennedy, has offered a tea visit for this evening, and that she has accepted of it. What shall we do, if she has heard of the stage-coach affair? I should not mind mamma or Charles, for they both will hear reason; but what to do with papa I know not. What a pity mamma had not the presence of mind to say we were engaged!"

"You forget," said Catherine," that my aunt is ignorant of any cause why we should

decline the pleasure of Miss Kennedy's company at tea."

"True; that had quite escaped me. But can we not manage to get my father to dine out that day? I'm sure I wish Captain Ramsay would ask him."

“I thought,” said Catherine, "I heard you say, that you hoped he would never go there again, as he and Mr Ramsay always made a point of fighting about politics, and he came home so cross."

"Ah! but, Catherine, you must allow that people's sentiments and opinions change with the different situations they are placed in; and surely you would rather that papa should quarrel with a hundred and fifty whigs than with his own family? He is the only sufferer by the one, but we by the other."

"Would it not be much better, Ellinor, that his family gave him no cause to quarrel with them ?"

"This is not to the point," answered Ellinor. "I wish your advice and assistance

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